A 56-year-old man from Bunyan’s Cove was arrested and charged after a traffic stop on the province’s west coast resulted in the seizure of nearly one-million contraband cigarettes.
Officers with the RCMP’s Traffic Services West pulled a cube van over on the Trans Canada Highway near Birchy Narrows on Monday for speeding.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 930,000 unstamped tobacco products.
The estimated street value of the contraband cigarettes is more than $230,000 according to police, and represents more than $348,000 in lost tax revenue to government.
Lawrence Scott Hobbs, who was charged with possession under the Excise Act, was released to appear in court in January.
The investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.
